Sierra Club: EPA plan to repeal emission standards would ‘put Americans at risk’ 

Estimates from the Sierra Club found Iowa utilities would be allowed to release 26 million tons of carbon emissions annually, if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a proposal to repeal carbon pollution standards. 

In its explanation for the proposal, EPA claims greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired plants “do not contribute significantly” to dangerous air pollution and that removing pollution standards set by the agency under previous administrations would save $19 billion in regulatory costs over two decades. 

The Sierra Club, which is an environmental organization with chapters across the country, said the power sector is the largest stationary source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and that exposure to these air pollutants are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, respiratory diseases, pregnancy complications and cancer. 

“The Trump Administration continues to put the American people at risk by stripping away environmental safeguards proven to clean up the air we breathe and improve public health,” Pam Mackey Taylor, director of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club, said in a statement. 

The proposal would repeal regulations put in place in 2015 and in 2024 that put emission guidelines and standards on coal-fired power plants, via Section 111 of the Clean Air Act. 

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s proposal argues the Clean Air Act requires the agency to determine, before it issues regulations, that pollutants emitted by fossil fuel-fired power plants “causes, or contributes significantly to, air pollution” that is “anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.” 

The current administration argues EPA in the past created regulation standards without this determination. 

EPA data shows that 25% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 came from the power sector, which was just slightly less than the transportation sector which accounted for 28% of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. 

In an EPA presentation explaining the rules which were finalized in July 2024, the agency estimated the additional carbon pollution standards would have cut 617 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and other “harmful air pollutants that are known to endanger public health.” 

Sierra Club charted the impacts these regulations would have had, state-by-state based on operating coal-powered plants and their estimated closure dates.

EPA regulations around carbon pollution standards for the power sector have been challenged in the past, most recently with a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case that repealed part of the 2015 Clean Power Plan emission guidelines. 

The proposal to repeal the most recent rules alleges Biden-era EPA leadership did not change course following the Supreme Court ruling, but created similar, rules with expanded regulations. 

Acting under a handful of executive orders from President Donald Trump, and Zeldin’s “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative, the agency seeks to repeal “all” greenhouse gas emission standards on the power sector, or alternatively, just the “most burdensome set of requirements.” 

The notice said this will “ensure affordable and reliable energy supplies and drive down the costs of transportation, heating, utilities, farming, and manufacturing while boosting our national security.” 

The proposal will have a public hearing 15 days after it is published in the Federal Register, where EPA will also accept public comments on the proposed rules 45 days after it is published. Those interested can search for the docket in the federal register with Docket ID number: EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0124. 

“During the public comment period, we will continue to fight for clean air and protect our communities being harmed by Trump’s shortsighted actions,” Mackey Taylor said.